Pelargonium plant named ‘Fishelus’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Pelargonium  particularly distinguished by its salmon-pink, semi-double flowers, large flower heads, intense green zonation of the foliage, and a medium sized plant habit is disclosed.

Genus and species: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Variety denomination: ‘Fishelus’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPelargonium, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, resp. a hybridof Pelargonium zonale L'Héritier and hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name ‘Fishelus’. The new cultivar is a product of a plannedbreeding program which had the objective of creating new varietieshaving salmon-pink, semi-double flowers, large flower heads, and intensegreen zonation of foliage. ‘Fishelus’ was discovered as a seedlingresulting from a cross between the female parent, hybrid seedling No.91-1216-3 (unpatented), which has salmon-colored single-type flowerswith medium green foliage and strong zonation, and the male parent,hybrid seedling No. i93-250-8 (unpatented), which has orange-redsemi-double flowers, medium-green foliage with relatively strongzonation and a compact growth habit.

The new cultivar was created in 1995 in Hillscheid, Germany, and hasbeen asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings in Galdar,Gran Canaria, Spain, and Hillscheid, Germany, over a nine-year-period.‘Fishelus’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions, thus, the phenotype may vary significantly with variationsin the environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length.It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughsuccessive asexual propagations. ‘Fishelus’ reproduces true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied for in Germany onJun. 2, 2004. No sales or offers for sale of this cultivar have beenmade before early July 2004.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Hillscheid, Germany.

-   -   1. Salmon-pink, semi-double flowers;    -   2. Large inflorescences on strong peduncles high above the        foliage;    -   3. Medium-green foliage and large leaves with distinct zonation;    -   4. Moderately vigorous growth with no shattering (dropping of        petals);    -   5. Tall and rounded with a moderately wide plant habit;    -   6. Early to mid-spring flowering response; and    -   7. Fair rain resistance.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

This new geranium plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant; the colors shown areas true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures. The photograph is of a twelve-week-old plant grown fromrooted cuttings in 14-cm pots, left un-pinched, and grown undergreenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used incommercial practice.

FIG. 1. shows overall plant habit with blooms, buds, and foliage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Fishelus’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inHillscheid, Germany. The plant history was taken on twelve-week-old,un-pinched plants in 14-cm pots in a greenhouse during mid-May. Thecolor readings were determined under natural light in mid-May fromflowers grown in a greenhouse. Color references are to The R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Pelargonium×hortorum, resp. a hybrid of            Pelargonium zonale L'Héritier.        -   Common name.—Geranium.        -   Parentage.—Female parent: Hybrid seedling No. 91-1216-3            (unpatented). Male parent: Hybrid seedling No. i93-250-8            (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—Rounded.        -   Branching habit.—6.0 branches per plant.        -   Height.—15.3 cm for a 9 week-old plant (measured from base            of stem to the tips of the branches, excluding the            inflorescences).        -   Width.—24.8 cm for a 9 week-old plant.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—For spring            flower response in Hillscheid, Germany, in 2004, 50% of the            plants had begun flowering 8 weeks after being planted from            rooted cuttings.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Plants continuously flower; a            flower count in mid-May of 2004 in Hillscheid, Germany            indicated about 3.2 inflorescences per plant.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Immature leaf.—Color: (medium green). Upper surface: RHS            137C (medium-green) to RHS 137D (medium-green). Lower            surface: RHS 137D (medium green).        -   Mature leaf.—Color: Upper surface: RHS 137C to RHS 137D            (medium-green). Lower surface: RHS 137D (medium-green).            Length: 5.8 cm. Width: 9.8 cm.        -   Zonation color.—RHS 166A (brown) with a medium distinctness.        -   Zonation diameter.—Inner diameter is 4.2 cm and width of the            brown band is 2.0-2.2 cm.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Shape.—Kidney-shaped to nearly round, with only very weak            lobes, with the lowest lobes overlapping or being divided by            a narrow gap.        -   Margin.—Bi-crenate.        -   Texture.—Upper surface is smooth, dull, and velvety.-   Petioles:    -   -   Length.—5.0-6.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 143C (light-green).        -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent.-   Stems:    -   -   Length.—9.0-12.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—1.0-1.5 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 143B (light-green).        -   Texture.—Appears smooth with weak pubescence.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Length.—1.7 cm.        -   Width.—1.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Color of sepals (just before petals unfold).—RHS 144A            (light-green).        -   Color of petals (just before petals unfold).—RHS 41B to RHS            43D.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—An umbel composed of 35-45 flowers.        -   Umbel diameter.—10.8 cm.        -   Umbel depth (height).—6.0 cm.        -   Umbel shape.—Semi-spherical.        -   Lastingness of umbel on the plant.—16 days.        -   Peduncle.—Length: 14.8 cm. Diameter: 3.0-4.0 mm. Texture:            Weak pubescence. Color: RHS 144B (light-green).        -   Pedicel.—Length: 2.9 cm. Diameter: 1.5 mm. Texture: Weak            pubescence. Color: RHS 144B (light-green); and near upper            end occasionally brownish infused, near RHS 179B.-   Corolla:    -   -   Diameter.—4.8 cm.        -   Form.—Semi-double.        -   Shape.—Round outline, with the upper petals nearly the same            size and shape as the lower petals which are cup-shaped.        -   Number of petals.—6-9.        -   Petaloids.—Number: 0-2. Shape: Narrow. Color: RHS 40A to RHS            40B.        -   Lastingness of individuals flowers on the plant.—8 days at            18° C.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Petals:    -   -   Upper petals.—Length: 2.9-3.0 cm. Width: 2.2-2.4 cm. Color:            Upper surface: RHS 41B for the base, RHS 43D near margin and            upper part; the color may change to RHS 52D (pink) while            maturing. Lower surface: RHS 43D but somewhat variable.            Markings: RHS 47B (pink) very fine veins.        -   Lower petals.—Length: 2.5-2.6 cm. Width: 2.1-2.2 cm. Color:            Upper surface: Mainly RHS 41B. Lower surface: RHS 43D but            somewhat variable. Markings: Absent.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire or slightly crenated at the tip.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous and slightly glossy.-   Sepals:    -   -   Number.—5.        -   Length.—1.0-1.2 cm.        -   Width.—0.4 cm for largest upper sepal, 0.2 cm for the other            sepals.        -   Shape.—Linear to lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Very weak pubescence.        -   Color.—For both the upper and lower surfaces, RHS 144B            (light-green) and near base is weakly RHS 179B (brown).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Number of anthers: 2-5. Filament color: RHS 155D            (white). Filament length: 4.0-5.0 mm. Pollen color: RHS 26A            (yellow-orange). Pollen amount: Moderate.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil number: 1. Pistil length: 8.0 mm. Stigma            color: RHS 43D (salmon-pink). Stigma shape: 5-6 lobed. Style            color: RHS 43D (salmon-pink). Style length: 3.0 mm. Style            shape: Filiform with the stigma lobes at right angles.-   Fruit/seed set: A few seeds may develop.-   Disease and insect resistance: Average and typical for the species.

COMPARISON WITH KNOWN CULTIVARS

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to ‘Fishelus’ are the varieties ‘Schöne Helena’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,374) and ‘Fishelen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,727).

Cultivar ‘Fishelus’ differs from the female parent hybrid seedling No.91-1216-3 (unpatented) in that ‘Fishelus’ has semi-double flowers andintense green and zoned foliage while hybrid seedling No. 91-1216-3 hassingle-type flowers and medium-green foliage with strong zonation.

Cultivar ‘Fishelus’ differs from the male parent hybrid seedling No.i93-250-8 (unpatented) in that ‘Fishelus’ has salmon-pink flowers whilehybrid seedling No. i93-250-8 has orange-red flowers.

Cultivar ‘Fishelus’ differs from the commercial comparison variety‘Schöne Helena’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,374) in that ‘Fishelus’ hassalmon-pink flowers while ‘Schöne Helena’ has salmon-pink and whitesemi-double flowers with several inner petals. The inflorescences of‘Fishelus’ are about 1.0 cm smaller in diameter than those of ‘SchöneHelena’ but ‘Fishelus’ develops twenty-percent more flowers than ‘SchöneHelena’. Additionally, ‘Fishelus’ displays about medium distinctzonation of the leaves while ‘Schöne Helena’ has weak zonation of theleaves.

Cultivar ‘Fishelus’ differs from the commercial comparison variety‘Fishelen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,727) in that ‘Fishelus’ hassemi-double flowers while ‘Fishelen’ has nearly single-type flowers.Additionally, ‘Fishelus’ displays about medium distinct zonation of theleaves while ‘Fishelen’ has strong zonation of the leaves.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium plant as shown anddescribed herein.